LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - When Bradley Hazenberg started his science fair project the burning question in his young mind was whether or not potatoes are a natural source of energy.

The answer surprised Hazenberg and quite a few of the people who stopped by his booth at the Bompas Elementary School's Science Fair on Nov. 30 in Fort Simpson. Hazenberg was eager to demonstrate the showpiece of his project, a 1.5-volt calculator that was running off of the power from two garden variety potatoes.

Sylvia Pascua-Matte holds her experiment that demonstrates how the water cycle works. The project won Pascua-Matte first place in the Class 5 division at the Bompas Elementary School's science fair. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

"Veggies can be a source of energy," he said.

Hazenberg's dad Darren helped him wire the series connections that linked the potatoes and created the necessary energy source. One potato can produce approximately .9 volts so it's just a matter of linking together enough potatoes to get the energy you need, explained nine-year-old Hazenberg.

During his experiments Hazenberg was able to power a larger three-volt calculator with four potatoes and he also lit a small light for a few seconds with 10.8 volts from 12 potatoes.

The necessary energy was created as the acid in the potatoes in the series of connections reacted with the zinc screws that were holding them in place. Hazenberg's inventive power source secured him first place in the Class 4 division at the science fair, a standing that he shared with Lia Fabre-Dimsdale who's project looked at the best ways to keep ice and food frozen without using a freezer.

All of the students at Bompas Elementary School participated in the science fair. The youngest students from kindergarten studied primary colours while Class 1 students experimented with the most effective building structures to keep people dry when it's raining.

"The purpose is to expand the knowledge of science," said principal Chris Kingsbury, about the event.

There are many career possibilities in the sciences and by introducing students to science concepts early the hope is that they will develop an interest in it over time, Kingsbury said.

Sylvia Pascua-Matte's passion for hydrology was evident in her project on the water cycle.

"I was thinking about water and I wanted to learn more about it," said Pascua-Matte.

"It sounded really interesting and it really was."

To learn more about the water cycle Pascua-Matte created a small scale demonstration of how the process works. Her experiment used a large bowl containing hot water to symbolize the ocean and a smaller empty bowl in the middle to act as the ground. After covering the large bowl with plastic wrap and placing a weight on the middle Pascua-Matte watched the water vapour condense and run towards the weight before falling as water droplets into the small bowl.

Paired together with a model that she made from paper-mache and cardboard, Pascua-Matte said she learned how all water is recycled in the water cycle. Delving into hydrology won her first place in the Class 5 division. Pascua-Matte said she was excited and surprised by her success.